Stimulating the Valley

See how the government’s stimulus packages affect the Valley. What do you think?

By: Greg Ryan

Published: 08/14/2009

As Washington debates the merits of a second stimulus package, the first concrete signs of the original recovery effort, signed into law by President Obama in February, are beginning to sprout up across the Hudson Valley. Here you’ll find a few of the more notable projects the government has approved for stimulus funds. Are the construction jobs and improved infrastructure worth the multimillion-dollar tab? That’s for you to decide.

Stephentown (Rensselaer County): The construction of a flywheel energy storage facility, which generates “clean” electricity by spinning state-of-the-art rotors at high speeds.Stimulus funding: $43 million loan

Latham (Albany County): The demolition of the hamlet’s three-million-gallon water tower, a longtime landmark for Northway drivers, due to its proximity to planes arriving and departing from nearby Albany International Airport. (A smaller water tank will be built in another location.)Stimulus funding: $6.7 million

Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County): The construction of an elevator to provide pedestrians on the city’s waterfront access to the soon-to-debut Walkway Over The Hudson. Stimulus funding: $2.4 million

Kingston (Ulster County): A one-third-mile extension of the pedestrian walkway on the city’s waterfront.Stimulus funding: $200,000

Kerhonkson (Ulster County): The construction of a new bridge over Rondout Creek on the hamlet’s Main Street (Route 209). Stimulus funding: $4.7 million

Newburgh (town, Orange County): The rehabilitation of four bridges along I-84 in need of general maintenance and repair. Stimulus funding: $2.2 million

Hudson River: The conversion of the Day Peckinpaugh, a 1921 canal motorship, into a full-fledged floating museum that sails to ports across the state. Stimulus funding: $3.1 million